Welcome to Afronerd!
A new and needed web sanctuary for people of color with intellectual and artistic pursuits. In this blog we will be addressing interesting and varied subjects, i.e. current national/world affairs, culture, science, religion, politics, entertainment and literature(including graphic novels a/k/a comic books.....yes comics). We hope you enjoy the exchange of ideas.
Peace & Godspeed.

Mission

Welcome to Afronerd! A new and needed web sanctuary for people of color with intellectual and artistic pursuits. In this blog we will be addressing interesting and varied subjects, i.e. current national/world affairs, culture, science, religion, politics, entertainment and literature(including graphic novels a/k/a comic books.....yes comics). We hope you enjoy the exchange of ideas. Peace & Godspeed

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

While perusing the net this afternoon, I came across multiple stories centered around the amazing elder bodybuilder/fitness enthusiast, Ms. Ernestine Shepherd. Her story is truly inspirational and leaves one with the notion-there really are no (more) excuses. I just joined a second gym last week to break up the monotony and although I am energized, one still has to connect with stories such Shepherd's to realize that with the right mental fortitude anything can be accomplished. Shepherd, who is 73 years young, trains six times a week and runs approx. 80 miles in the same duration. And perhaps it stories like these, that remind me that we must root out the strain of self defeatism and victimization that literally paralyzes some folks of color from accomplishing goals they are fully capable of achieving. Here's more of Mrs. Shepherd's journey, courtesy of ABC News:

Body Building Grandma Ernestine Shepherd Bench Presses, Runs Marathons At 73Grandmother Up Every Day at 3 a.m. and Says 'I Feel Better Than I Did at 40'

By SARAH NETTERApril 27, 2010

Taut abs and rippling muscles aren't exactly the stuff grandmothers are known for. But then again neither are marathons and cell phones that play the theme to "Rocky."Body building grandma, 73, runs marathons, benches 150 lbs.

At 73, Ernestine Shepherd is in better shape than most people decades her junior. Up at 3 a.m. every morning, she spends her days running, lifting weights and working out other senior citizens at the Union Memorial United Methodist Church in Baltimore. She also works as a certified personal trainer at her gym.

"I feel better than I did at 40," she said. "I am very, very happy."

In less than 20 years, Shepherd has morphed from a "prissy" woman who never exercised to the Guinness Book of World Records' oldest female bodybuilder.

A die-hard "Rocky" fan -- "Sylvester Stallone is my man," she cooed -- Shepherd is preparing for a body building competition this weekend.

"I feel now that I am a very strong, positive and confident woman," she said. "Years ago I concerned myself about what people said concerning me. But when you get 70-something and you don't have that many years in front of you, you don't concern yourself with that."

Monday, April 26, 2010

Let's keep it simple, folks! Join Max, Daryll and yours truly at tonight's Comic Shoppe show as we shed light on the following sci-fi/pop culture issues: recent terrorist threats aimed at South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone pertaining to an animated Muhammad character; the slow decline in science fiction television programming; the possibility of smaller budgeted Marvel films (i.e. Ant-Man...no pun intended); a Black Aqualad?; Ghost Rider 2 without Nick Cage?-and lastly, our favorite comic picks from the previous week. So feel free to join us live at 646-200-014 or via IM/email at the comicshoppe@yahoo.com! And remember-be there, be square and always be aware! Imperius Rex!

And while you wait for tonight's broadcast (consider it our version of a cinematic intermission), check out this sci-fi video short forwarded to my attention from the good folks at BlackScienceFictionSociety.com. The film is entitled The Raven and was helmed by Peruvian director Ricardo De Montreuil. Enjoy!

In the last few weeks I have come across a number of human disinterest stories that just boggles the mind and frankly makes it difficult to elucidate in a coherent manner. First, there was the story of a Colorado businessman that lost his finger due to an errant youth hell bent on separating him from his newly purchased iPad. And then there's the tragic death of a retired Hempstead, NY (Afronerdic haunting grounds) physician, Dr. Rebecca Twine-Wright who was mowed down on her front lawn by an 18 year old Oxycodone addicted driver who shortly after the incident exclaimed that she was relieved that Dr. Wright was "old." Wright, 69, who held several degrees and was described as an accomplished person of note, was simply tending her garden when she was struck by the allegedly drug addled youth. Click here for video of the driver at her very best. And lastly, the above video shows the demise of a 31 year old homeless person who lost his life while helping a woman who was being accosted by a thug who ultimately (and fatally) stabbed the hapless Samaritan. What makes this story even more tragic and unconscionable was the 2 hour surveillance footage that showed the dying man being ignored by passerbys, One individual was even brazen enough to inspect, roll the body, take a picture with his camera phone and still not call the authorities! Wow! I will refrain from editorializing on these issues and save my verbal assault for the next Afronerd Radio broadcast.....again, wow!

Well, I know this is a innocuous matter but I just can't (or rather I refuse to)
understand the current state of music. As of late, I have been mesmerized by the infectious groove of the The Gorillaz' latest single, "Stylo" performed live in the above Colbert Report video clip. After taking a look at the latest Billboard listing, it appears that Stylo has only made an impact on the Alternative chart (presently 24th). I guess Afronerd readers are keenly aware of my constant lament-substantive and creative music is purposely being censored! How can a song that features the iconic Bobby Womack, the creative Gorillaz, the lyrical prowess of Mos Def and a cool video that features Bruce Willis miss? I have yet to hear this on any local hip hop station and yet the traffic for the Youtube video is north of three million views! Anyway, that's enough of my official rant.....next up, more ruminations of a serious nature and a preview of tomorrow's Comic Shoppe broadcast. And for your further edification, check out the official Stylo video:

Monday, April 19, 2010

Hello again comic and pulp fiction fans! The Comic Shoppe will be open for the business of heavy graphic novel/sci-fi/fantasy discussion tomorrow at 7pm eastern. Join Dburt, Daryll and Max as they discuss the following: Marvel's Kick Ass movie performed below industry expectations but will word of mouth boost ticket sales?; more on our favorite comic books from the previous week and in taking cues from The Shoppe's Daryll B, we will also add to the discourse the issues brought up in his weekly Afronerd blog entry:

Interesting news from C2E2 starting with:1. We all wondered what the Disney/Marvel business would mean to their animation division, well wonder no more. My problem with these plans is Iron Man is coming back but Spectacular Spider-Man and Wolverine & The X-Men is out??? Come on Marvel!!! http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25819 2. Walking Dead adds Brandon Routh and Jeffery DeMunn to the show. Can you say must watch? http://www.spinoffonline.com/2010/04/17/the-green-miles-jeffrey-demunn-joins-the-walking-dead/ and http://blog.newsarama.com/2010/04/12/the-walking-dead-series-just-got-a-little-bit-super/

5. I personally liked Kick-Ass more than the comic....but I absolutely LOVED The Losers. Iron Man 2, the bar is set high for you once again.

6. I have heard of stupid lawsuits but this is the first I heard about Jeff Smith's Bone trying to been banned from libraries in Minnesota. This mother is waaaay off her rocker. If anything this is the book series to try and get kids INVOLVED in comics. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=25816

We ran out of time yesterday so it's time for par deux! A bit more on the Howard Stern vs Jamie Foxx vs Oprah vs Gabby Sidibe issue; Rev. Sharpton's recent National Action Network event in Harlem-NYC; Bill O'Reilly explains why he is laying off of Black topical coverage; a preview of tomorrow's Comic Shoppe discussion on the "Kick Ass" film and some parting words on the death of two great men-Civil Rights icon, Benjamin Hooks and noted journalist, David Mills.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

It's definitely time to get back to business! Afronerd Radio returns for another fiery broadcast after a month plus long hiatus. Join us tonight at 7pm eastern as we discuss and bring heavy analysis to the following topics: the stalled Jamie Foxx vs Howard Stern beef over Oprah and Gabby Sidibe-what's it all about Gabby?; Rev. Sharpton appears to be one upping Tavis Smiley with his recent Harlem Black Agenda event/symposium; Fox's Bill O'Reilly recently exclaimed that he has lessened his coverage on Black topics for fear of being labeled a racist; yours truly actually saw marvel/Icon's Kick-Ass film and loved it; the untimely passing of Civil Rights' icon Benjamin Hooks and fellow blogger/journalist, David Mills (of the blog Undercover Blackman for the uninitiated) and lastly of course more exposure to tunes not played on conventional radio.....see you at 7pm!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Join Max, Dburt & Daryll as they pontificate on all things pulp! The topics to be discussed are the following: our favorite graphic novel/comics from the previous week; Blade becoming an x-man? Our thoughts; Green Lantern’s suit might be CGI influenced; More on the Captain America film and the transformation needed to pull it off and a preview of the comic book movies slated for release this summer as well as Elephantmen being optioned for movie rights. Stop by at 7pm eastern for a lively discourse!

From March 23rd transcript:

So here it folks, it 6am on a Tuesday Morning in NY and I know I have to turn in a blog to Afronerd before we do another show. I am just sitting here with nothing pressing to write about except:

Great story by Greg Hatcher talking about his class of gifted cartooning youngsters. Once you read the article and see the pics you'll know which one I liked right away..(Hint: dude posing in pic, with pic AND artist is kinda a big deal in the Marvel U. right now) Now we have to convince Greg to shave hs head bald and get a wheel/hoverchair. Of course his wife might not be too keen on this... http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/03/20/last-weekend-at-emerald-city-2010-or-the-cartooning-class-reunion/

Greg Burgas usually thinks outside the box and this article is no exception: http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2010/03/22/how-kurt-busiek-unwittingly-ruined-marvel-and-dc-superhero-comics/I love Busiek, but I can't deny that Greg brings up good points here.

The boys at The Weekly Crisis got into a pretty nice analysis on JMS and Wonder Woman...the good and the ill http://www.weeklycrisis.com/2010/03/jms-wonder-woman.html

Chris Evans is Captain America!?!?! http://www.newsarama.com/comics/Evans-Captain-America-100322.html Hmm does this mean a Fantastic Four / Avengers crossover movie is out of the question now?

I really don't know how I feel about this http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2010/03/warner-bros-prepping-film-adaptation-of-bleach-manga.html#more I mean Forbidden Kingdom was ok, Dragonball was bleh, Akira seems to be D.O.A., Avatar for 4 minutes of trailers looks ok and as I said to BlaqueRonin I have to worry about the other 94 minutes now. Death Note is coming and now Bleach? Looks like American Cinema wants to taint all of my cherished Anime love.

We knew it had to happen: http://www.latinoreview.com/news/michael-bay-gives-transformers-3-update-9514 Can you say "Hot Rod"..? I know you can...

As far as quick tv news:

Survivors Season 2 begins tonight at 9pm on BBCAmerica.

Meanwhile Merlin returns to SyFy along with the new season of Stargate Universe on April 2....

This Friday is the Midseason break episode of Caprica....

and if you didn't like last week's Human Target with Lennie James from Jericho as Chance's Evil Protege' Baptiste I dunno what to tell ya...except this week has Timothy Highland from Highlander and Sanctuary and a certain lil "Boomer" from Battlestar Galactica named Grace Park...

First up, let me give a grand hat tip to Sergio Mims of the Shadow and Act Black cinema blog for informing me of the above Shades of Grey comic themed documentary (a work in progress as it is currently billed). Shades appears to be an excellent and much needed piece on the historical depiction/representation of minorities in the world of pulp. And now for tomorrow's Comic Shoppe broadcast....stop by this Tuesday at 7pm (eastern) as Max, Daryll and yours truly discuss the following comic/sci-fi/fantasy issues: First we hear that Chris Evans (formerly, Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four franchise) has been picked to play the lead in The First Avenger: Captain America and now Sebastian Stan (Hot Tub Time Machine, Gossip Girl) is set to star as Cap's sidekick, Bucky; DC's comic event Blackest Night came to a close with a (not so) surprise ending; Mark Millar proclaims his recently released Nemisis comic to be far superior to Kick Ass; our thoughts on this past weekend's Wondercon-San Francisco and our favorite graphic novel reads from the past couple of weeks. So feel free to join in our conversation by contacting us live at 646-200-0104 or via email/IM-thecomicshoppe@yahoo.com. And remember...make yours the Comic Shoppe!